Origin
Colchester, CT
Morning in Colchester on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colchester, CT to Milford, CT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
55 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colchester, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Milford, CT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Colchester, CT to Milford, CT is 55 miles and takes about 1 hour 24 minutes via CT 15, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Connecticut, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that blends highway speeds with more local road sections. It’s a straightforward journey, suitable for a single day of travel. Given its relatively short length, you won’t need extensive planning, making it a convenient option for a quick trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CT 15 | 23 mi | 28m |
| Middletown Road | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Meriden Road | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Portland-Cobalt Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Colchester Avenue | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| North Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Middletown Avenue | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Grassy Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
CT 15
— 23 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colchester, CT and Milford, CT.
1
Start on Hayward Avenue
181 ft
·
14 sec
·
Hayward Avenue
2
Turn left onto CT 16
132 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lebanon Avenue
3
Turn left onto CT 16; CT 85
445 ft
·
10 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto CT 16
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Linwood Avenue
5
Continue on CT 16
6.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Middletown Road
6
Continue on CT 16
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Colchester Avenue
7
Continue on CT 16
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Middletown Avenue
8
Turn left onto CT 66
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
West High Street
9
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Portland-Cobalt Road
10
Continue on CT 17; CT 66
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Marlborough Street
Use the straight lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Grand Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto Prospect Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Prospect Street
14
Continue on Liberty Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Liberty Street
15
At end of road, turn left onto CT 3
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Newfield Street
16
Turn right onto CT 66
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on CT 66
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Meriden Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 91
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
I 91
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
8 sec
Toward CT 15 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto CT 15
23 mi
·
28 min
·
CT 15
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
258 ft
·
10 sec
Exit 41
Toward CT 121: Orange
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
25
At end of road, turn right onto CT 121
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grassy Hill Road
26
Continue on CT 121
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto River Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
River Street
28
Arrive at destination
Factory Lane
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.5 miles from Colchester, CT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 49.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 91 South, CT 15 South: New Haven
7
26.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward CT 15 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward CT 15 South
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CT 15 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CT 15 South
7
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward CT 121: Orange
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward CT 121: Orange
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.85 one way
$17.71 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $9.74 | $19.48 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.14 | $24.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Milford, CT
Morning in Milford on Tuesday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Middletown, CT
28 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 42% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on CT 15, including one uninterrupted segment of 23 miles, which will allow for consistent speed. The remainder of the drive will involve sections on Middletown Road and Meriden Road, suggesting a transition to more local traffic and potentially lower speeds as you get closer to your destination. The road's personality shifts from efficient travel to a more community-focused pace.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on CT 15.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Milford, CT
Full guide →Milford is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut. It is bordered to the south by Long Island sound, to the west by the Housatonic river, to the North by the town of Orange, and to the east by the town of West Haven. Milford is approximately 70 miles east of New York City. Milford is home of the Subway chain of restaurants and the Bic company.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 55 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23 miles on CT 15. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Milford, CT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (CT 17; CT 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Weir Farm National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milford, CT before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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